Winding Engine No. 756
This was Australia’s 4th plaque and is on the wall adjacent to the steam engine and winding drums.
Walkers Limited of Maryborough, Queensland, manufactured this steam winding engine in 1899.
The winding engine is known as a first motion steam winding engine. First motion, because no gearing is used, the steam pistons by way of piston rods, crosshead and connecting rods drive directly on the crankshaft which carries the rope drums. The steam cylinders and pistons are the simple type or single expansion. The engine is purely manually operated by the winding engine driver. The controls consist of a steam inlet valve, a reversing lever and a pedal brake on each rope drum. The engine is not fitted with any governor mechanism, the speed of the engine only being controlled by amount of steam admitted by steam valve and position of the reversing lever to allow for a greater or lesser expansion of steam used.
After 25 years in Gympie it served for 58 years at the Rhondda coal mine in Ipswich, before being placed in the Gympie Museum.
The engine is still operated for tourists and is significant for its size, age, and local manufacture.
Engineering Heritage Recognition Program
| Marker Type | Heritage Engineering Marker (HEM) |
| Award Date | August 1986 |
| Heritage Significance | |
| Nomination Document | Available here. |
| Ceremony Booklet Ceremony Report |
Not Available |
| Plaque/Interpretation Panel Image | Available here. |
